Polishing composition



United States Patent Office 3,072,492 Patented Jan. 8, 1963 3,072,492 POLISHING COMPOSITION Thomas B. Smith, Evanston, and Henry C. Geen, Hinsdale, Ill., assignors to Simoniz Company, a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed May 6, 1960, Ser. No. 27,247 1Clair'n. (Cl. 106-4) This invention relates to a polishing composition dr'iable to a bright surface without requiring buffing.

The polish composition of this invention is a water based polish in which the ingredients are dispersed in the water by means of a dispersing agent. The polish is of the well known d'ry bright type which needs only be applied to the surface to be polished, such asa floor, and then permitted to dry to form a bright protective surface. This type of polish is of course well known in the art and is widely used.

"One of the problems with a polish of this type is to provide good coverage of the surafce so that merely upon spreading the polish over the surface it will substantially uniformly cover the surface to produce a uniform polish film upon drying. In other Words, thepolishing composition'must have good leveling characteristics.

One of the featuresof this invention is to provide an improved polishing composition driable to-a bright surface without requiring buffing, comprising an aqueous vehicle, a non-volatile, water insoluble film formena dispersing agent present inwan amount sufficient'to form a stable dispersion of the film former in the vehicle with the dispersion breaking down upon evaporation of the vehicle to form a thin layer of the film former on a surface, therebydepositin'g the film former in a smooth, bright layer on said surface, and about 0.=052.5% by weight of the composition of gelatin.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparentfrom the following description of the invention and'embodiments thereof.

The polishing composition ofthis invention comprises a continuous phase aqueous base constituting at least about 50% by weight ofthe composition and up to about 50% solids dispersed and dissolved in the aqueous base. These solids include non-volatile film formers, emulsifiers which may be either anionic, cationic, or nonionic to serve as emulsifying and dispersing agents for the dispersed solids, and from about 0.005% or less to about 2.5% or more by weight of the composition of gelatin. The gelatin used is one that is water soluble in the amount used. Animal gelatin which of course is water soluble may be used. Amounts and weights given are on the dry basis.

Tests have shown that gelatin has unusually unexpected characteristics 'in improving the leveling in aqueous based self-polishing floor polishes. This permits the formation of more uniform films, particularly on those surfaces which are not usually well coated by dry-bright polishes.

Extensive tests have proven that the leveling is improved in these water based self-polishing polishes generally without regard to the type of coating material or film former dispersed in the aqueous base. In general, these aqueous based self-polishing polishes have five basictypes of film formers. These are generally classified as follows:

(3) Synthetic polymer types of film formers. (4) All resin film formers.

(5) All wax film formers.

In the above classes 1 and 2 the total parts in each are 100.

In all of these types of water based selfapolishing polishes wherein the film former is dispersed in the water, leveling was improved by the addition of the gelatin of this invention. Representative formulas and their methods of formulation are given in the following examples. These examples are not restrictive, but are merely exemplary of the basic types of self-polishing polish formulas to show that the improved leveling is achieved in Water based self-polishing polishes generally and that the improved results are not due to any specific formula. Thus the tests have indicated that whenever an aqueous base self-polishing polish is usable on a surface such as a floor, its leveling characteristics are improved by the addition of gelatin.

Example 1 In this example of a floor polish prepared according to this invention:

*A. An aqueous dispersion was prepared at room temperature containing 8000 parts by weight of an aqueous dispersion-of a polystyrene having a solids content of approximately 36%, to which is added a homogeneous premix -of 192 parts by weight of tributoxyethyl phosphate and 240 parts by weight of dibutylphthalate, followed-by about 50 parts by weight of gelatin. The phosphate and the phthalate compounds are plasticizers for the polystyrene. The resulting composition which contained about 39% solids was diluted with 2 volumes of soft water to produce a solids content of approximately The dispersion of a polystyrene has the trade name Ubatol U-ZGOl and is made by UBS Chemical Corporation of Cambridge, Massachusetts. The dispersed polystyrene particles are of less than 0.03 micron average diameter and carry negative charges. The polystyrene in this compound has a molecular weight of about l50,000- Instead of the above-mentioned plasticizers other plasticizers such as dibutoxyethyl phthalate may be used. The amount of the plasticizer is preferably kept as low as possible and this amount can be as low as 11% by weight'of the solids content of the composition.

B. A second composition was then prepared by mixing parts by weight of an oxidized polyethylene, 22 parts by weight of red oil which is essentially oleic acid and 22 parts by weight of morpholine, which are melted together and poured into 84-6'parts by weight of water at F. with sufiicient agitation to emulsify. The oxidized polyethylene is identified as AC Polyethylene 629 made by the Semet-Solvay Petrochemical Division of Allied Chemical & Dye Corporation, 40 Rector Street, New York City. The oxidized polyethylene of this product has an average molecular Weight of about 2000, a saponification value and acid number of about-1417, a melting point of about 20=5-208 F. and a viscosity of 40-50 Saybolt Furol seconds at C. 30 cc. efflux.

C. A third composition was then prepared by dispersing 450 parts by weight of shellac in a solution consist- ,ing of 54 parts by weight of sodium tetraborate pentahydrate (5 mol borax) in 3696 parts by weight of water at about 120 F. The amount of 5 mol borax can be between ll-13% by weight of the shellac present.

D. The above three compositions A, B and C were thenmixed together in the proportions of 60 parts by volume of compositions A, 10 of B and 30 of C to form the final composition. In each instance herein where the amount of each ingredient is given as parts by weight these parts are all the same unit. In this example, each unit is one gram.

In preparing "the composition of this example, the gelatin is added initially to the plasticized polystyrene dispersion in an amount of about 1% by weight of the final composition.

The above composition was found to have excellent leveling characteristics when merely poured on a surface such as a floor tile with the excess removed by holding the tile vertically. The tile was coated uniformly and the coating dried to a bright surface.

In the above example, the film former that is dispersed in the aqueous carrier is the polymer polystyrene. In this formula is also included shellac dispersed by means of an alkali. In general, the polystyrene formulas similar to this example contain about 50-75% by weight of an aqueous dispersion of a polystyrene, about 1020% by weight of an aqueous dispersion of an oxidized polyethylene, and about 15-30% by weight of an aqueous alkaline dispersion of shellac.

Example 2 Another surface coating composition capable of drying to a bright coating has the following composition:

Approximate parts by weight Softened water 7133 About 1% of gelatin by weight of the above composition was found to greatly improve the leveling characteristics of this polish.

Example 3 In a further example of a self polishing floor polish prepared according to this invention:

A. An alkali solution was prepared by mixing 121 grams of sodium hydroxide and 174 grams of borax containing 5 mols of water in the molecule into one-half gallon of soft water.

B. A shellac solution was prepared by heating 2 gallons of soft water to 97 F. and then mixing in 378 grams of 26 B. ammonia and 4.17 lbs. of bleached shellac. The solution was held until it became clear.

C. A wax emulsion was prepared by melting 5 lbs. of carnauba wax, 5 lbs. of oxidized microorystalline wax, and 5 lbs. of microcrystalline wax together. 833 grams of mixed animal fatty acids were then added and the term perature maintained at 208 F. The alkali solution of A, above, was then mixed into the melted wax mixture slowly and the temperature held at about 205 F. After this, 7 gallons of soft water were added slowly until the wax mixture became the dispersed phase, after which the remainder of the water was added more rapidly. The completed dispersion was then cooled to 97 F. with continued agitation.

D. A concentrate was then prepared by mixing 7 gallons of the above wax emulsion C, 2.6 gallons of the above shellac solution B, 18.9 grams of Butrol as a disinfectant, and then soft Water was added to bring the total volume up to 10 gallons.

E. The final polish formulation was then prepared by mixing 155 cc. of D above, 50 cc. of a 10% aqueous solution of gelatin at 95 F. and 42.5 cc. of softened water. This resulting polish formulation was found to give improved leveling over the same formulation but with no gelatin present.

Example 4 In this formula, 150 cc. of D of Example 3, 50 cc. of a 10% solution of gelatin at 95 F. and 12 cc. of soft water were mixed together. Here, also, leveling was found to be improved by the presence of the gelatin.

Example 5 In this example, the self-polishing polish includes dispersed wax and dissolved shellac in an aqueous carrier:

A. A wax emulsion containing about 20% by weight of solids was prepared by melting 600 grams of carnauba wax at a steam bath temperature of 210 F., after which 120 grams of oleic acid was added. When the melt was complete, grams of morpholine was added and stirred into the melt. Then, 50 grams of boiling soft water was stirred in the melt until the color became dark brown. At this time then the remainder of 4000 grams of boiling soft water was added in gram increments over a period of approximately 10 seconds. It is preferred that this wax emulsion be made in 500 gram increments proportioned in the same proportions as given above and then these increments combined after all increments are prepared.

B. A shellac solution containing 25% by weight solids was prepared by adding 925 grams of bleached shellac to 1800 grams of soft water with stirring. This agitation was continued until the shellac was completely wet. At this time, 180 grams of 26 B. ammonia was added and the entire mixture stirred for 40 minutes at a temperature of about 130 F. At the end of this time, enough cold soft 'water was added to bring the total weight of the shellac solution up to 3700 grams.

C. The final polish formulation of this example was then prepared by mixing cc. of wax emulsion A above, 60 cc. of a 10% solution of gelatin at 95 F., 28 cc. of shellac solution B above and 52 cc. of soft water. The resulting water based self-polishing polish was found to have improved leveling characteristics.

Example 6 A polish formulation similar to Example 5 above was prepared by mixing 125 cc. of wax emulsion A of Example 5, 45 cc. of a 10% solution of gelatin at 95 F., 28 cc. of shellac solution B of Example 5 and 19 cc. of soft water. Here again, improved leveling was observed.

Example 7 A. A wax emulsion containing about 21% solids was prepared from the following ingredients:

Soft water to 2250.0 grams.

This wax emulsion was made in increments of 250 grams which were then combined. In making the increments, the oleic acid, carnauba and microcrystalline waxes were mixed and melted together at steam bath temperature of 210 F. with stirring. After melting was complete, the caustic soda and borax were added, dissolved in 15 grams of boiling water. The mixture was then stirred for a few minutes until a clear brown transparent viscous melt was obtained. Boiling water was then added in small portions of about 4 cc. with stirring between each addition until the wax melt became the discontinuous phase. As soon as this inversion point had been reached, the remaining water was added more rapidly.

B. The shellac solution used was the same as that set out in B of Example 5 above.

C. The complete formulation was then prepared by mixing 125 cc. of wax emulsion A of this example, 10 cc. of soft water, 35 cc. of a 10% aqueous solution of gelatin at 95 F. and 30 cc. of shellac solution B above.

,, This polish was found to have improved leveling characteristics.

Example -8 This example is similar to Example 7. The polish here was prepared by 125 cc. of wax emulsion A of Example '7, '45 cc. of soft water, 50 cc. of a aqueous solution of gelatin at 95 F. and 30 cc. of shellac solution B of Example .7.

The preceding examples are typical examples of formulas containing a relatively large amount of wax and small amount of resin in the dispersed film former in the polish. A

Example 9 a A wax emulsion of about 21% by weight of solids was prepared by i'nelting together 322 grams of 50% by weightDufex'resin No. 219, which is an isomerized trpene phenolic resin, with 50% oxidized microcrystalline Wax, 102 grams of oxidiied microcrystalline wax, and 68.4 grams of oleic acid. 14.6 grams of caustic soda and 12.1 grams of borax containing 5 mols of Water in the molecule weredissolved in 300 cc. of boiling soft water and this was added with stirring to the a dark brown clear transparent mixture, the mass was poured into 1200 cc. of boiling soft water during rapid stirring. The resulting mixture was then brought up to a final weight of 2470 grams by adding cold soft water.

B. A shellac dispersion containing %:solids was prepared by prewetting 500 grams of bleached shellac in 1200 cc. in cold soft water and this mixture was heated to 90 F. with stirring. 58.4 grams of 5 mol borax wasthen'added and heating and stirring was continued until the temperature reached 120 F. This temperature Was maintained for about 40 minutes and then sufficient V cold soft water wasadded to make the total weight about 2233 grams.

C. The polish formula of this example was then prepared by mixing 41 cc. of wax emulsion A, 96 cc. of shellac dispersion B, 45 cc. of'a 10% aqueous solution of gelatin at 95 F. and 14 cc. of softened water.

Example 10 l I A. A wax emulsion containing about 18% solids was prepared from the followingingredients:

Grams Can'delilla Wax 225.0 Oxidized microcrystalline wax 39.0 -O1eic acid; 42.5 Caustic soda -1 -1 9.0 "5 mol borax 16.0

Soft water to 1500.0 grams.

This emulsion was made in increments of 300 grams which were later combined. The candelilla wax and the oxidized microcrystalline wax were melted in the presence of the oleic acid at a temperature'of about 210 When the waxes had been melted, the caustic soda and borax were dissolved in about 20 cc. of boiling soft water and then: added to the wax melt. The mixture was C. To produce the finished polish containing about 1 by weight of the Wax emulsion and about 70% of the shellac dispersion and having a solids content of between 11'l2%, 58 cc. of wax emulsion A, 96 cc. of "shellac dispersion 'B and 50 cc. 'of a 10% aqueous solution of gelatin at 95 F. were mixed. The resulting 'self polishing polish was found to have improved leveling characteristics.

The above Examples 9 and 10 are exemplary of relatively large amounts of resin and relatively small amounts of wax type formulas.

Exai'nple -11 A. grams of the oxidized polyethylene of B of Example 1 above was melted at a temperature of 230 F. Then, 66 grams of oleic acid was added during which the temperaturedropped to 218 F. After the acid and I polyethylene had been stirred for a few minutes, '66

abovemelted wax composition. When this melt became grams of morpholine was added and stirring was continued until the mixture was homogeneous. This mixture wasthen poured slowly into 2300 grams of soft water at slightly below the boiling point with stirring by 'means of high speed agitation. The emulsion was then broughtup to a total weight of about 3000 grams by the addition of cold soft water.

B. A shellac solution was prepared by prewetting 200 grams of bleached shellac by mixing it with 400 grams of cold soft water. Then 50 grams of 26 Bxaqueous ammonia and 50 grams of oleic acid were added simultaneously. This mixture was stirred at a temperature of 120 F. for 40 minutes. At the end of this time, 25 grams of tributoxy ethyl phosphate were 'added and enough soft water was added to make the total weight 870 grams.

C. Emulsified polyacrylate containing 36% solids, which is the polyacrylate companion dispersion to the polystyrene dispersion describedin A of Example 1 above and is producedby the same company is used.

D. To prepare the finished polish, 27 cc. of wax emulsion A, 34 cc. of shellacsolution B, cc. of acrylic polymer C and 50 cc. of a 10% solution of gelatin at F. were mixed together.

Example 12 A. The wax emulsion was prepared as set out in A of Example 11.

B. A plasticized polystyrene emulsion was prepared by mixing together 45 grams of 'dibutyl phthalate and 36 grams oftributoxy e'tliyl phosphate and these were added to 1500 rams bf the aqueous dispersion of polystyrene of A of Example 1 above. The mixture of the two plasticizers was added during violent stirring of the dispersion and this stirring was continued for about 40 minutes to ensure thorough mixing.

C. An aqueous dispersioncontaining 40% by weight of solids consisting essentially of a copolymer of 90% of methylmethacrylate and 10% silicone methacrylate is used.

D. A shellac dispersionwas prepared according to the procedureset out under B in Example 9 above.

E. The polish was produced by mixing 25 cc. of wax emulsion A, 40cc. of plasti'ci zedpolystyrene B, 10 cc. of the acrylic polymer dispersion C,37 cc. of shellac dispersion D. 35 cc. of a 10% solution of gelatin at F. and 156 cc. of softened water.

"Example 13 To prepare this self-polishing polish, the following were mixed together: 25 cc. of wax emulsionA of Example 11, 30 cc. of the plasticiied polystyrene of B of Example 12, 20 cc. of the polyacrylate dispersion of C of Example 12, 37 cc. of shellac dispersion B of Example 9, 45 cc. of a10% solution of gelatin at 95 F. and 124 cc. of soft water.

Example 14 To 'prep'are the polish composition 'of'this example, "the following weremixed: 50 cc. of the polystyrene dispersion B of'Exarnple 1'2, 121cc. of soft water, 35 cc. of a 10% solution of gelatin at 95 F., 37 cc. of shellac dispersion B of Example 9 and 25 cc. of wax emulsion Example 15 A. A wax emulsion was prepared containing:

Grams Carnauba 100.00 Microcrystalline wax 100.00 Oxidized microcrystalline wax 25.00 Soap flakes 35.00 Caustic soda 0.75 mol borax 10.75

Soft water to 1500.00 grams.

The preparation procedure was followed as set out in A of Example 7.

B. Polystyrene emulsion of about 36% solids content.

C. Shellac solution B of Example 5.

D. The complete polish was prepared by mixing 92 cc. of wax emulsion A, 30 cc. of polystyrene emulsion B, 34 cc. of shellac solution C and 50 cc. of a 10% solution of gelatin at 95 F.

Example 16 A. A wax emulsion was prepared by the procedure set out in A of Example 7 of 160 grams of montan wax, 80 grams of oxidized microcrystalline wax, 48 grams of oleic acid, 48 grams of morpholine, and soft water to make a total of 1300 grams.

B. An aqueous dispersion of polyvinyl acetateacrylic copolymer containing 50-52% by weight solids.

C. The polish formulation of this example was prepared by mixing 110 cc. of wax emulsion A, 28 cc. of dispersion B, 50 cc. of a 10% solution of gelatin at 95 F. and 18 cc. of soft water.

Example 17 A polish similar to that of Example 16 was prepared by mixing 110 cc. of wax emulsion A of Example 16, 28 cc. of dispersion B of Example 16, 35 cc. of a 10% aqueous solution of gelatin at 95 F. and 88 cc. of soft water.

Example 18 In this example, the polish was prepared by mixing 137 cc. of shellac solution B of Example 3, 50 cc. of a 10% solution of gelatin at 95 F. and 19 cc. of soft water Example 19 A polish was prepared by mixing 137 cc. of shellac solution B of Example 3 and 45 cc. of a 10% aqueous solution of gelatin at 95 F.

Example 20 cc. of A and 25 cc. of a 10% aqueous solution of gelatin at 95 F.

Example 21 A polish was prepared by mixing 150 cc. of the wax emulsion C of Example 3 and 40 cc. ,of a 10% aqueous solution of gelatin at 95 F.

Example 22 A polish was prepared by mixing 150 cc. of wax emulsion C of Example 3, 45 cc. of a 10% aqueous solution of gelatin at 95 F. and 17 cc. of soft water.

Example 23 A polish was prepared by mixing 150 cc. of wax emulsion A of Example 5, 50 cc. of a 10% aqueous solution of gelatin at 95 F. and 47 cc. of soft water.

7 Example 24 A polish was prepared by mixing 150 cc. of wax emulsion A of Example 5, 30 cc. of a 10% aqueous solution of gelatin at F. and 32 cc. of soft water.

Example 25 Example 26 A polish was prepared by mixing cc. of wax emulsion A of Example 7, 55 cc. of a 10% aqueous solution of gelatin at 95 F. and 43 cc. of soft water.

In each of the examples given above, the presence of the gelatin improved the leveling of these self polishing aqueous based polishes. As can be seen, the exemplary formulas are representative of the several different types of self polishing polish formulations. The gelatin of this invention was found to improve the leveling in every one of the different types of self-polishing polishes wherein the film former is dispersed in the aqueous continuous phase.

The above examples illustrate substantially all the commonly recognized types of water based self polishing polishes which dry to a bright protective finish without requiring bufling. These examples therefore illustrate the fact that the leveling agent of this invention essentially is not specific to any one type of formulation but improves the leveling characteristics of all types of water based self polishing polishes so as to give a more uniform protective coating of the polished surface.

As set out above, the basic polish formula of this invention includes at least about 50% aqueous vehicle and up to about 50% solids. In general, the solids content will be between 5% and 50% with the preferred limit being about l050%. The solids include non-volatile film formers which may be either natural or synthetic waxes, natural or synthetic polymers and natural and synthetic resins and mixtures thereof and also include emulsifying and dispersing agents for dispersing the solids in the aqueous vehicle or base which is the continuous phase of the polish composition. The emulsifying and dispersing agent is present to perform its well known function and as is customary in this art is present in an amount sufiicient to form a stable dispersion of the film former in the aqueous vehicle or base so that the dispersion will break down upon evaporation of the aqueous vehicle to form a thin layer of the film former on the surface, thereby depositing the film former in a smooth bright layer on the surface primarily by reason of the inclusion in the composition of the gelatin.

Although the basic ingredients are the aqueous vehicle and non-volatile film former, the emulsifier and dispersing agent, and the gelatin, it is of course well known in this art that modifiers may also be included for each of these ingredients as is illustrated in the preceding examples.

As mentioned, the film formers include waxes, polymers, resins and mixtures thereof.

The waxes include animal, vegetable, mineral and synthetic waxes and wax-like materials. These waxes are all well known in this art and include: beeswax, microcrystalline, oxidized microcrystalline, paraffin, montan, ozokerite, carnauba, candelilla, oricury, palm, whale, sugar cane, esparto, lanolin, polyethylene, and telomers of ethylene with saturated organic compounds containing only carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, e.g. an alcohol, aldehyde,'ketone, acid, ester, orthoester, acid anhydride, ether or acetal as disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,395,292.

As examples of natural and synthetic resins and polymers, the following are typical:

Shellac Manilla loba Amberol 750-condensation product of maleie or fumaric anhydride with rosin and mixed polyhydroxy alcohols No. 3551condensation product of maleic anhydride and pentaerythritol No. 2694-C-condensation product of maleic and high molecular weight glycols Resins listed in US. Patent No. 2,839,482

Polyvinyl acetate Polyvinyl chloride-acetate Polyvinyl chloride Polyacrylates Copolymers of vinylidene chloride and acrylonitrile Terpene resins Terpene phenolic resins Copolymer of vinyl acetate and crotonic acid Copolymers of butadiene and styrene Polyvinylidene chloride Polyacrylates Polymers of alkyl acrylates, allyl acrylates, methallyl acrylate, allyl methacrylate, crotyl acrylate, crotyl methacrylate, allyl ethacrylate, allyl cinnamate, methallyl methacrylate, ethallyl acrylate, ethallyl methacrylate, allyl alphaphenylacrylate, allyl alphachloroacrylate, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, diallyl phthalate, dimethallyl phthalate, diallyl maleate, diallyl succinate, diallyl oxalate, divinyl benzene, dimethallyl itaconate, diethallyl itaconate, diallyl malonate, diallyl allylmalonate, diallyl citrate, triallyl citrate, diallyl fumarate, diallyl acetone, divinyl ether, diallyl ether, dimethallyl ether, glycol diacrylate (ethylene diacrylate), glycol dimethacrylate, glyceryl diacrylate, glyceryl dimethacrylate, glycol diethacrylate, trivinyl benzene, and mixtures thereof Among the .emulsifying and dispersing agents that are useful for dispersing the film former in the aqueous vehicle, the following are well known and customarily used in this art:

Morpholine salts of fatty acids of 12-18 carbon atoms such as morpholine oleate and stearate Acetates of n-primary amines having 12-18 carbon atoms in amine chain such as n-dodecyl amine acetate, noctadecyl amine acetate, n-octadecenyl amine acetate and n-octadecadienyl amine acetate Monoesters of polyethylene glycols and fatty acids of 12-18 carbon atoms such as hexaethylene glycol monooleate Alkylated aryl polyether alcohols Alkali metal soaps of fatty acids of 12-18 carbon atoms Soaps of alkalis such as alkanolarnines, borax, morpholine, ammonia, alkali metals, and the like with acids such as oleic acid, red oil, mixed amino fatty acids, and the like Di-n-octyl sodium sulfosuccinate Oleic acid condensate of polyethylene oxide Sodium salt of a secondary alkyl sulfate Aryl alkyl polyether alcohols Aryl polyether alcohols As mentioned earlier, various modifying agents may be included in the polishing compositions of this invention. Thus one type of modifier includes plasticizers for the film formers. Customarily plasticizers in this art include:

Diethylene glycol diacetate Diacetin 10 Tricresyl phosphate Dibutyl phthalate Butyl phthalyl butyl glycolate Methyl phthalyl ethyl glycolate Trimethylene glycol di-Z-ethyl hexoate Trimethylene glycol di-Z-ethyl butyrate Tributoxyethyl phosphate As shown in the examples given herein, combinations of each type of ingredient may be used if desired.

The polishing compositions of this invention have a number of advantages over previous well known selfpolishing compositions. The polishing compositions are capable of forming a level polish film without requiring the use of additional ingredients to form the film such as acid, heat and the like. The polish is completely stable in bulk but as soon as it has been spread in a thin layer over the surface to be polished will form a continuous clear glossy film in thin layers and at room temperature. It appears that the emulsifier or dispersing agent that is used forms a link between the water of the base and the film former ingredients so that the polishing composition remains stable until the Water substantially evaporates. Upon evaporation of the water and other volatile ingredients, the film former coalesces to form the continuous glossy film. The leveling agent contributes to this uniform film forming coalescing but the exact mechanism of this action is not known.

The term low molecular weight alkyl groups is intended to include preferably those with 1 to 5 carbon atoms.

Having described our invention as-related to the embodiments set out herein, it is our intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description, unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claim.

We claim:

An aqueous based floor polish driable to a bright surface without requiring bufiing, consisting essentially of: a continuous aqueous phase; a dispersed non-volatile, water insoluble solid film former capable of being deposited in a smooth bright protective film upon evaporation of the aqueous constituent of said aqueous phase; a small amount of a dispersing agent present in the aqueous phase in an amount sufiicient to form a stable dispersion of the film former in the aqueous phase with this dispersion breaking down upon evaporation of the aqueous constituent of the phase to form a thin layer of the film former on a surface thereby depositing the film former in a smooth, bright, protective layer on said surface; and as a leveling agent about 0.0052.5% by weight of the composition of gelatin, said dispersing agent being an agent other than said gelatin and being capable of dispersing said solid film former in the absence of said gelatin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Tumbler Nov. 15, 1938 Thompson Dec. 27, 1938 

1. AN AQUEOUS BASED FLOOR POLISH DRIABLE TO A BRIGHT SURFACE WITHOUT REQUIRING BUFFING, CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF: A CONTINUOUS AQUEOUS PHASE; A DISPERSED NON-VOLATILE, WATER INSOLUBLE SOLID FILM FORMER CAPABLE OF BEING DEPOSITED IN A SMOOTH BRIGHT PROTECTIVE FILM UPON EVAPORATION OF THE AQUEOUS CONSTITUENT OF SAID AQUEOUS PHASE; A SMALL AMOUNT OF A DISPERSING AGENT PRESENT IN THE AQUEOUS PHASE IN AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO FORM A STABLE DISPERSION OF THE FILM FORMER IN THE AQUEOUS PHASE WITH THIS DISPERSION BREAKING DOWN UPON EVAPORATION OF THE AQUEOUS CONSTITUENT OF THE PHASE TO FORM A THIN LAYER OF THE FILM FORMER ON A SURFACE THEREBY DEPOSITING THE FILM FORMER IN A SMOOTH, BRIGHT, PROTECTIVE LAYER ON SAID SURFACE; AND AS A LEVELING AGENT ABOUT 0.005-2.5% BY WEIGHT OF THE COMPOSITION OF GELATIN, SAID DISPERSING AGENT BEING AN AGENT OTHER THAN SAID GELATIN AND BEING CAPABLE OF DISPERSING SAID SOLID FILM FORMER IN THE ABSENCE OF SAID GELATIN. 